I suppose it's possible or even likely Phil did nothing wrong and is getting ahead of this. Because it could have come out eventually that he used him and if he hadn't denounced this first it would maybe be a presumed guilty thing

I’m stumped about one thing. Aunt Becky purportedly gave somebody $500,000 to get her kid into USC. Wouldn’t that be enough of a donation paid directly to USC to make it all work?

Phil is getting out ahead of this thing and offensive PR is usually done for a reason.

I see this deal getting bigger and ensnaring a lot more people.

It was $500K for two kids. The cost to go to USC (counting books, living expenses and tuition) is estimated at $70,000/year. So, they didn't pony up enough to USC directly and therefore had to bribe the crew coach.

I’m stumped about one thing. Aunt Becky purportedly gave somebody $500,000 to get her kid into USC. Wouldn’t that be enough of a donation paid directly to USC to make it all work?

Phil is getting out ahead of this thing and offensive PR is usually done for a reason.

I see this deal getting bigger and ensnaring a lot more people.

It was $500K for two kids. The cost to go to USC (counting books, living expenses and tuition) is estimated at $70,000/year. So, they didn't pony up enough to USC directly and therefore had to bribe the crew coach.

Or they had to bribe the coach because their test scores weren’t good enough for general admission but were high enough for the athlete exemption.

I’m stumped about one thing. Aunt Becky purportedly gave somebody $500,000 to get her kid into USC. Wouldn’t that be enough of a donation paid directly to USC to make it all work?

Phil is getting out ahead of this thing and offensive PR is usually done for a reason.

I see this deal getting bigger and ensnaring a lot more people.

It was $500K for two kids. The cost to go to USC (counting books, living expenses and tuition) is estimated at $70,000/year. So, they didn't pony up enough to USC directly and therefore had to bribe the crew coach.

Or they had to bribe the coach because their test scores weren’t good enough for general admission but were high enough for the athlete exemption.

Phil's kid went to a fancy private school that already offered college admission services.

Why else would he be involved with these folks?

These guys were above and beyond ... they even had a letter of recommendation from the Mickelsons on their website.

Did this firm actually do any legitimate things? I don't know a ton about them, were they like a coaching agency for exams?

Or were they just like some big bribery ring?

According to Phil, they coach the kids for the tests and help parents through the college selection process.

Phil said his kids get outstanding grades, test well, have awesome extracurriculars, have great "world views" (don't know what that means) and Universities were competing for them ... the only reason he used the agency was to cut through the "confusion" of choosing the right college.

Why are Phil and Amy so confused about the college admissions process?

Shouldn't it be easier for the person with loads of money to choose where to send their kids to university? The Mickelsons can afford any college on the planet. There are no bad options for people like that.

What bad luck for them that they just happened to choose the tutoring company named in the biggest ever collegiate admissions scandal.

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson’s name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you’d have already heard about it.

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson’s name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you’d have already heard about it.

Actually, we totally agree.

I’m not sure what everyone is reading into my comment saying that it doesn’t look good for him? Do you people think this is positive PR for him? Lol

Why are Phil and Amy so confused about the college admissions process?

Shouldn't it be easier for the person with loads of money to choose where to send their kids to university? The Mickelsons can afford any college on the planet. There are no bad options for people like that.

What bad luck for them that they just happened to choose the tutoring company named in the biggest ever collegiate admissions scandal.

Because it’s a confusing process? Apply to half a dozen colleges, each with a different application process, requirements and cut-off dates and it’s a lot more work than you’d think.

I used a service when I was applying to law schools. Help with LSAT prep, help with tailoring essays to specific schools, putting together and submitting app packages. It was a big help and took a lot of stress off of me. Worth every penny.

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson's name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you'd have already heard about it.

Actually, we totally agree.

I'm not sure what everyone is reading into my comment saying that it doesn't look good for him? Do you people think this is positive PR for him? Lol

Maybe we can all agree that

"this is not a great look for Phil"

I think people are misreading your original statement to mean that Phil is in trouble; doesn't look good for him.

Phil getting ahead of this is a smart thing to do. I wonder if Kuchar is as well.......no wait he's too cheap /taunt.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':taunt:' /> With that said, whoever is guilty I hope they get a nice stint in jail. The odds are already stacked against the majority of kids in this country and now this confirmation of a rigged system just proves what most already knew. I love that these things are coming to light. Karma is a b****

Why are Phil and Amy so confused about the college admissions process?

Shouldn't it be easier for the person with loads of money to choose where to send their kids to university? The Mickelsons can afford any college on the planet. There are no bad options for people like that.

What bad luck for them that they just happened to choose the tutoring company named in the biggest ever collegiate admissions scandal.

Because it’s a confusing process? Apply to half a dozen colleges, each with a different application process, requirements and cut-off dates and it’s a lot more work than you’d think.

I used a service when I was applying to law schools. Help with LSAT prep, help with tailoring essays to specific schools, putting together and submitting app packages. It was a big help and took a lot of stress off of me. Worth every penny.

Ok.

Looks like you are in CA. Just out of curiosity - had you heard of the admissions prep company named in the indictment? I'm not trying to imply anything, just wondering how well-known this firm was.

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson's name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you'd have already heard about it.

Actually, we totally agree.

I'm not sure what everyone is reading into my comment saying that it doesn't look good for him? Do you people think this is positive PR for him? Lol

I want to know who at the university is collecting all that money? I assume that’s the person in a boatload of trouble.

I don't think any university admissions people were named in the indictment.

Collegiate coaches were, however.

Were Loughlin’s kids involved in athletics?

LOL, they bribed the crew coach to get her daughter in on a rowing scholarship (photo of her on a rowing machine!) even though she had never participated in the sport. You just can't make up how weird some of this is.

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson's name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you'd have already heard about it.

Actually, we totally agree.

I'm not sure what everyone is reading into my comment saying that it doesn't look good for him? Do you people think this is positive PR for him? Lol

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson's name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you'd have already heard about it.

Actually, we totally agree.

I'm not sure what everyone is reading into my comment saying that it doesn't look good for him? Do you people think this is positive PR for him? Lol

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson's name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you'd have already heard about it.

Actually, we totally agree.

I'm not sure what everyone is reading into my comment saying that it doesn't look good for him? Do you people think this is positive PR for him? Lol

I want to know who at the university is collecting all that money? I assume that’s the person in a boatload of trouble.

It was coaches and other people outside the university being bribed. I don't believe it was anyone within admissions offices or anyone else.

Right. And it seems like the kids didn't even know! Wow.

Some of them had to know considering a few were getting ACT/SAT tests taken for them or getting extra time because of their "learning disability" (which was suddenly diagnosed right before the test). I hope this doesn't effect students who truly do have learning disabilities.

Disagree. He knows that having used the company will mean his name gets dragged into this, regardless of whether his kids bought special treatment or they just used them to organize the admissions process. Why not get out ahead of the story?

The Feds are perp walking any big name they can find in this thing. If the Mickelson's name was implicated in any kind of nefarious way, you'd have already heard about it.

Actually, we totally agree.

I'm not sure what everyone is reading into my comment saying that it doesn't look good for him? Do you people think this is positive PR for him? Lol

this is some seriuosly f'd up ish .. everyone of these kids should be expelled .. and the parents should go to jail for fraud .. the wealthy and privileged thinking they can just cheat and game the system and f everyone else .. tsk tsk .. it'll get underreported cos of the names of some of the families that are and will be involved .. no golf coaches implicated yet .. so there's that

I want to know who at the university is collecting all that money? I assume that’s the person in a boatload of trouble.

I don't think any university admissions people were named in the indictment.

Collegiate coaches were, however.

celebrities were purposefully "chosen" imo as scapegoats so we would all be distracted from the fact that universities promote/accept these practices, both illegally, as well as through legacy institutions.

The scam has hit the tour, money creates opportunity for many college golfers. But I doubt this "scam" will spread... to many institutions will fight to contain it

Yep, the idea the kids didn't know won't hold much as an argument, especially the fake athletes and the ones who faked their disabilities, and on and on.

I guess I don’t get as outraged as some since there is such an abundance of “students” attending college just to bide their time until the NFL or NBA. They’re no more students than Loughlins daughter is an athlete.

The money is just com8ng from a different source. TV money paid for athletic programs, or TV money paid by an actress mom.

I’m not sure why people are shocked that rich folks pay for preferential treatment. Do you all just think that every rich family begats pure genius from their loins ? I mean they can’t be 5th generation legacy kids on pure intelligence. Law of averages says it can’t be.

Yep, the idea the kids didn't know won't hold much as an argument, especially the fake athletes and the ones who faked their disabilities, and on and on.

I guess I don’t get as outraged as some since there is such an abundance of “students” attending college just to bide their time until the NFL or NBA. They’re no more students than Loughlins daughter is an athlete.

The money is just com8ng from a different source. TV money paid for athletic programs, or TV money paid by an actress mom.

Disagree that u can call the mandated (to go pro) grind of college athletics "biding" time, but yes the outrage is interesting. It is a contradictory situation.